“Paramount Pictures...100 Years of Movie Magic” celebrates our Centennial Anniversary and the talented filmmakers, actors, artists and employees who have helped make this remarkable achievement possible. We’ve selected a few of our most recognizable films and franchises to celebrate this great milestone. Our goal is to evoke a sense of nostalgia for the magic we’ve created throughout our history, wile inspiring our employees and audiences worldwide.

Films possess the unique ability to transport us to a different place and time. They are a shared emotional experience with a common audience, which can make us laugh, scream, shout or cry. Movies are a series of images, some of which become ingrained in our memories, quoted, relived and shared throughout generations. Whether it be a World War I dogfight, the tragic sinking of the Titanic, a boy sprinting free from his leg braces, an alien race of robots battling for the safety of Earth or a spaceship Enterprise boldly going where no one has gone before, Paramount, throughout its 100 years, has been dedicated to creating images that we could only previously “Just Imagine”.

Our films have been entertaining audiences for generations and our float is a way to honor our past and present as well as look forward to our future. It encourages employees to take stock in and be proud of Paramount’s rich tradition and history, and invites the audience to share all the lasting memories we’ve created throughout the years.

FLOAT DESCRIPTION:

Height: 26 Feet

Width: 18 Feet

Length: 55 Feet

Paramount’s float combines unforgettable moments and images from its past, present and future. Leading the way is the World War I plane from William A. Wellman’s 1927 silent-drama Wings. Wings is the very first Academy Award®-winning Best Picture and the only silent film to receive this prestigious award. Representing the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood are two Paramount employees brandishing rear Oscar® statuettes. Get ready for some Summer Lovin’ with the 1978 smash hit Grease. Danny’s dream vehicle is automatic, systematic, hydromatic …it’s Greased Lightning’. Watching from his bus stop bench is the loveable Forrest Gump, who reminds us, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get." Paramount’s historic Bronson Gate and fountain represent both the famous entrance to the studio as well as the gateway to one’s wildest dreams and imagination. Standing behind the Bronson Gate, Transformers’ Bumblebee plays the part of the studio’s protector. Based on the Hasbro toy line, this mega hit franchise by director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, has pulled in record-setting box office worldwide. Gliding high above, Star Trek’s USS Enterprise represents Paramount’s continued journey to explore strange new world and boldly go where no studio has gone before. This globally beloved franchise from creator Gene Roddenberry is a cornerstone of Paramount’s history, and in 2009, director J.J. Abrams unveiled his successful reboot to the world, creating a whole new generation of fans. Paramount Pictures is the only major studio still located in Hollywood. Honored with this distinction, we proudly display one of the world’s most iconic images – the Hollywood sign – at the base of Paramount’s legendary snowcapped mountaintop.

To celebrate Paramount Pictures’ 100th Anniversary by honoring the iconic images that have made the studio the powerhouse it is today and looking forward to our next 100 years.

FLOWERING:

Crisp white stars created in sweet rice and dendrobium orchid florets float over the lush red carpet gardens running the entire length of the float and comprised of over 50,000 brilliant red Charlotte roses. The Wing’s biplane has been decorated in ironed cornhusk with accents of black seaweed and white coconut chips, blue sinuata statice with red carnations. Floral spotlights have beams of shimmering lunaria skins that reflect the sunlight. The iconic Bronson Gate and fountain are recreated in a mixture of light and dark sesame seed to simulate the look and texture of granite. The 1948 Ford Deluxe “Greased Lighting” car from Grease is crafted in white coconut chips and detailed with gray silverleaf protea leaves and red ilex berries. The USS Enterprise, created in white coconut chips with accents of silverleaf protea petals and black seaweed, hovers high above Bumblebee decorated in petals of brilliant yellow strawflower, gray poppy seeds and black chive seeds. Completing this spectacular entry are actual fireworks and floral explosions created in thousands of yellow Oncidium orchids, orange Star 2000 roses, yellow Gold Strike roses, gold hybrid Vanda and James Story orchids.

Crisp white stars created in sweet rice and dendrobium orchid florets float over the lush red carpet gardens running the entire length of the float and comprised of over 50,000 brilliant red Charlotte roses. The Wing’s biplane has been decorated in ironed cornhusk with accents of black seaweed and white coconut chips, blue sinuata statice with red carnations. Floral spotlights have beams of shimmering lunaria skins that reflect the sunlight. The iconic Bronson Gate and fountain are recreated in a mixture of light and dark sesame seed to simulate the look and texture of granite. The 1948 Ford Deluxe “Greased Lighting” car from Grease is crafted in white coconut chips and detailed with gray silverleaf protea leaves and red ilex berries. The USS Enterprise, created in white coconut chips with accents of silverleaf protea petals and black seaweed, hovers high above Bumblebee decorated in petals of brilliant yellow strawflower, gray poppy seeds and black chive seeds. Completing this spectacular entry are actual fireworks and floral explosions created in thousands of yellow Oncidium orchids, orange Star 2000 roses, yellow Gold Strike roses, gold hybrid Vanda and James Story orchids.

The lush red carpet gardens running the entire length of the float is comprised of over 50,000 brilliant red Charlotte roses.

Daytime pyrotechnics are shot from the rear section of the float with CO2 and strobe lights used on the USS Enterprise. Propeller rotates on the Wings biplane. An on-board music system adds to the entrainment of the Paramount float.

INNOVATION:

The float is able to lower from 26 feet in height to 16 feet in less than 45 seconds, allowing it to pass under low wires and the freeway bridge along the parade route. Exacting research was conducted by Fiesta Parade Floats to insure the realistic duplication of Paramount’s historic icons.

ubertenorman wrote:I don't know if I should be glad or offended that out of 100 years of movies Bumblebee gets top billing...

The only place you'll see him get top billing is on a Transformer/Sci-Fi related site. I seriously doubt that he will get much mention in very many general news reports. It does make sense to have a TF representative on the float though considering how much the franchise has pulled to Paramounts coffers in a relative short amount of time. There is no longer any doubt that Transformers is solidly a part of American and world-wide pop-culture and the recent movies have done a fabulous job of establishing that.

The Rose parade is one of the most remarkable events ever. I can't wait to see how they pull this float off. Considering that everything on the float is supposed to be organic materials, it'll be a remarkable achievement. Can't wait for New Years Day!

OlivusPrime wrote:Oh dear... the arms sticking out from the hips don't look good at all...

Remember, though, that this float is done by volunteers, in a limited amount of time. They are not collectors. They are not Trasnformer toy engineers. All in all, considering that they have to cover every surface with organic materials, they did a remarkable job. I suspect that the right shoulder was initially secured, but came loose.

BB looks terrible. Yea, I get a lot of work had to be put into it, and thats great and all. but when it looks like crap, all that work is really for nothing. They could have just made a blocky G1 robot (just like the power rangers stuff behind it) and it would look so much better.

THE POWERS OF DARKNESS ARE A MORE POWERFUL WEAPON THAN ALL THE TOYS YOUR SCIENCE CAN MUSTERDie, Autobots!